The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-02
THE GALL0W WS.
Execution of Albert Turner, One of Miss Bow
mans Assailants-He Exonerates Patterson.

LOUISVILLE, KY, July ALBERT Turner, one
of the negro murderers of Miss Jennie Bowman
was swung into eternity from the gallows in the
county jail-yard at 632 o'clock this morning
He was strangled to death, the body being cut
down about twenty minutes after the trap was
sprung. Only fifty people were admitted to the
yard, but about 1000 assembled in the
vicinity of the place early as 4:30 O'Clock.
During the prayer. which Immediately preceded
the fall of the trap, Turner gazed at the crowd
about him unconcernedly and went to his death
without any evidence of fear His dying state
ment, which follows, is fiat contradiction of
what he has insisted on all along and Of a state
ment made in the jail last night be fore four wit
1t exculpates Patterson. his accomplice
in the murder. who is also sentenced to hang,
but whose appeal has not yet been heard by the
Court of Appeals. He said:
"Now, gentlemen and friends, I hope you all
will take warning who see me now / hope not
another of you will ever walk the scat
fold; and now, friends, there is a man in prison
who robbed the street-car l want him turned
what have got to say am going to die with
an honest heart and bring no one to the gallows.
l am going to die alone. Free the Patter-
son. The man was not with me. That is all
have got to say. / am willing to die now."
TIE greatest excitement prevailed in this city
on the afternoon of Thursday, April % It
caused by the report that Jennie Bowman,
a domestic twenty-five years of age. employed
by Mr.. A. Y. johnson, at his home, in the best
residence portion of the city, had been assaied
and fearfully beaten by thieves while attending
to her household duties. The fact that the
assault had been committed in the bright, open
light of noon. when homes left unprotected.
added to the Indignation. The girl was found
brutally beaten, bleeding and insensible, across
the bed in a room in the second story On the
floor was found a heavy iron poker covered with
hair and blood, 1t had evidently been the weapon
used, Down stairs were the evidences of fear
full struggle. On the floor found the stem
of broken goblet which Jennie Bowman had
used in the fight for life On either side of the
staircase were bloody marks. The next day the
victim became conscious for few moments and
described her assailants, stating that they were
two negroes. On Friday afternoon, William
Patterson, a dangerous negro, who was suspect
ed, was arrested. Late Saturday afternoon AL
bert Turner. whose face and hands bore
pcious-looking wounds, evidently made by some
jagged instrument, was discovered in hiding and
taken to Jail. Several articles which had
been missed from the johnson house
also discovered in his room. Upon the sight
of these he confessed his crime, and implored
the officers to save him from the mob which he
feared. The authorities thought a lynching
probable and removed the men to Frankfort,
KY. In the meantime Turner upon seeing Pat
terson, declared that he was his accomplice
the terrible deed. He said that if his drawers
were examined blood would be found upon them.
Patterson was stripped. and the blood was there
Turner and Patterson were brought back to this
city upon Tuesday. April 81. the authorities at
Frankfort refusing to keep them longer Then
followed a mob demonstration which neces-
STATED the calling out of the
militia to protect the Jail. After lingering
nearly three weeks, Jennie Bowman expired
upon Mayo. The grand jury met May Is, and
returned true bills against Turner and Patter-
son for murder. The trial followed imm edatey,
and Turner pleaded guilty. His punishment
was fixed by the jury death. At 1885 O'clock
just five minutes after the Indictment had been
returned; Judge Jackson sentenced the self-con-
fessed murderer to hang on July J.
Patterson pleaded not guilty. His case was
tried May 10. The jury. after being out eleven
minutes, returned a verdict of guilty and punish
ment at death. The judge sentenced him to
hang July /, but his attorney prayed for ap-
peal, which is now before the Court of Appeals
The rehearng before that body will be had
about Sept. 10.